Libraries play a pivotal role in preservation of history and knowledge. They provide a sanctuary for knowledge enthusiasts. Despite a dearth in libraries across the country due to evolving mediums of learning and negligence, there still exists some gems. One such place is Municipal Library Gilgit that exudes history and old charm through its architecture and books collection. The recently inaugurated the Exhibition and Research center at the library has a valuable collection of vintage photographs and books that attracts visitor’s s attention. The children of ECD-II of Early learning model center paid a visit to the place and enthusiastically listened to the presentation, they also took a detailed tour of the center. This activity helps the young generation to get familiarize with history, identity, and literature. Habits of learning and reading are also cultivated through such endeavors.

Excerpt from Newsletter of Pakistan Alliance for Early Childhood (PAFEC)

https://www.pafec.org/community/index.php?threads/professional-development-in-early-childhood-development-by-rupani-foundation-pakistan-and-the-karakorum-international-university-gilgit-baltistan.42/

The importance of Early Childhood Development is getting recognition both at Federal and Provincial levels in Pakistan. Comprehensive National Curriculum on Early Childhood Education was revised in 2017 by Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFE&PT) with the aim to foster children’s overall well-being and ensuring the best possible conditions for growth and development in a conducive, child-friendly and all-inclusive environment. However, the most important aspect to promote ECD is the availability of well qualified and trained ECD professionals. Unfortunately, there is a huge gap in the demand and supply sides which is attributed to the lack of institutions and training centers which offer accredited courses in Early Childhood.

The pioneer Seminar on Early Childhood Development 2018 in Gilgit-Baltistan deliberated upon the challenges of mainstreaming Early Childhood Education in the education system, particularly in the context of Gilgit-Baltistan. Apart from policy reforms, the seminar also identified the need of qualified Early Childhood Educators/Teachers for improvement of service delivery.  In the loom of these recommendations, Rupani Foundation and Karakoram International University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a research and training center which will function under the Department of Educational Development, KIU. The immediate objective was to initiate 6 months certificate and 1-year diploma courses in ECD with the technical support of Rupani Foundation.

Rupani Foundation engaged internationally renowned ECD expert who formulated contextualize training modules and manuals for certificate and diploma courses in consultation with the Department of Educational Development, Karakorum International University. These modules included modern ECD approaches, theories, Child rights, development domains, and milestones, Nurturing Care Framework, ECD curriculum, Child Growth & Development, Assessment of a child’s early years, Multiple intelligences, classroom management, and practices etc. The first cadre of 14 masters’ was trained through an intensive 15 days ToT programme in April 2019. With the help of these master trainers, KIU and RF will jointly start diploma and certificate courses in Mid-June, 2018 in the main campus. This initiative will strengthen ECD initiatives at the grass-root level by providing much needed critical mass for service improvement in the sector.

Yet another accolade for Rupani Foundation. A graduate of Agah Walidain-Informed Parents Program Raqeen Yaqoob age 7, has been named ambassador of Baltistan University’s Early Childhood Development Program by Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Naeem Khan.

In 2016 young Rakeen was awarded Graduation Certificate in Early Childhood Diploma (ECD) by Rupani Foundation GB after completion of Prenatal to 03 years ECD under Agah Walidain (Informed Parents) program.

According to the parents of Rakeen, this unique case study of prenatal education in mother’s womb has been reported in educational seminars in Tokyo and Beijing. Former Federal Education Minister Baligh ur Rehman had also awarded appreciation certificates to parents and infant learner

A truly Proud moment for his parents and Rupani Foundation Family.

CEO Rupani Foundation Mr. Waseem Samad had a meeting with Mr. Imran Nadeem, member Legislative Assembly Gilgit-Baltistan to extend Quality Early Childhood Development Services in remote valleys of Shigar district, Baltistan.

Years of reckless usage of natural resources by Humans have caused irreversible damage to the Earth. Human footprint has brought innumerable species to extinction and damaged biodiversity. We are witnessing Climate change that is creating havoc across the globe, challenging food security, our habitats with intermittent flash floods, glacier outbreaks, excessive rains, cyclones, tsunamis and what not. We need to act collectively and collaboratively. Each year we observe Earth Day to create awareness and find solutions to the above-mentioned challenges. Rupani Foundation also contributes to this global issue by celebrating the event on Early Childhood Development centers across Pakistan.
The #EarthDay week at Early Learning Model center concluded successfully. This week-long celebration of Diversity in species, plants and other existing biodiversity on planet earth. Students enacted skits, role plays and performed on songs to raise awareness on the challenges our planet earth is currently facing. Pollution, Recycling biodiversity, Animal extinction,  water shortage,  deforestation,  Climate Change, and Global Warming were some of the themes highlighted on the occasion. Children also shared their ideas on how to protect Earth from Human-caused damages. Moreover, students and children pledged to use natural resources with caution, and care, they also pledged to protect the earth from further degradation by moving towards sustainable living, promoting recycling and protecting species.
Awareness about the ecosystem, biodiversity, and the surrounding environment at an early age influences young minds to ponder on.

The concluding ceremony of the Training of Trainers on Early Childhood Development in Diploma & Certificate course was held at Karakoram International University. The event was attended by VC KIU Eng. Prof Dr. Atta Ullah Shah, CEO RF Mr. Waseem Samad, Vice Chairperson Mr. Ghulam Tahir, Dean Department of Educational Development Dr. Muhammad Ramazan and senior faculty and staff of both the partner organizations. This two-week course was the result of  MoU being signed between RF and KIU during the first Seminar on Early Childhood Development in 2018. On the occasion of the closing, CEO Rupani Foundation shared the objectives of ToT, one of them was to provide qualified and certified ECD teachers to the region as well as to the country to counter the shortage of qualified teachers. He further shared RF’s role in promoting ECD that included collaboration with the Government to develop the ECD Framework. CEO also mentioned that Follow-ups have been made on almost all major recommendations presented at the last year’s seminar with the assistance of VC, Dean Department of Educational Development and all the facilitators. Moreover, he hoped that as a pioneer Institution KIU can lead the whole process and the center for research on ECD and research and training will start operating soon.  CEO also expected that under the Department of Educational Development_KIU, the trainees will now focus on research and will write research papers on ECD soon and present them on the platform of forthcoming International Conference on ECD at Islamabad.

The Guest of Honor, Vice Chancellor stressed that the ECE and ECD are one of the most important pillars of Early education. He mentioned that in European countries the investment in ECD has increased to 20-25 % whereas the most neglected development domain in the rest of the country is ECD. He also said that due to the efforts of organizations such as Rupani Foundation, Gilgit-Baltistan is leading among provinces in ECD education. VC further affirmed that KIU will collaborate on many such endeavors with RF in the near future to accelerate ECD processes.

Reflections were also shared by participants. Furthermore,  VC KIU distributed certificates among the ToT participants. The day ended with a renewed commitment towards the promotion of Eary Childhood Development.